Oak Street Health to remain closed after second emergency response in less than a week

WARWICK, R.I. (WLNE) — Oak Street Health will remain closed this week following a second report of individuals feeling ill.

The Warwick Fire Department responded to a shopping plaza in Warwick on Tuesday.

The incident marked the second time in less than a week that the department responded to Quaker Lane for reports of people feeling ill and vomiting at Oak Street Health.

The previous case was believed to be due to cleaning solutions poured into the sewer system, causing nine people to get sick.

Officials said metering was done and the business was aired out, and Oak Street Health decided to hire a private contractor to help them monitor the air daily.

Normal operations resumed at the health center until another person felt ill and was taken to the hospital on Tuesday.

The cause of Tuesday’s incident has not yet been determined, but authorities said nothing toxic was found inside the building.

“The Warwick fire, DEM, and the National Guard CST team went in with our meters and we spent the past hour and a half surveying the air inside of the building at Oak Street Health,” said Assistant Chief Alan Gouveia. “We found nothing toxic and we were unable to pinpoint what caused today’s incident.”

Crews believed the construction next door may have had something to do with it but said the sewer lines are completely independent.

Oak Street Health will have an industrial hygiene company clean the building and will meter again from there.

Management said the center will be closed indefinitely until the issue is rectified.